For those who have watched mixed martial arts grow from niche to mainstream, it's the most stacked card of the year so far.

Strikeforce -- the only legitimate challenger to the UFC's undisputed reign over the sport -- will host its first Nashville show Saturday on CBS.

Strikeforce brass are hoping three title fights on one card -- including some of the world's top-ranked fighters in their weight classes -- will serve notice to the UFC that it is not the only big player in the MMA world.

The card will feature a middleweight title bout between former UFC standout Dan Henderson and champ Jake Shields.

Gegard Mousasi will put his light-heavyweight belt on the line against slugger Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, while the man pegged by many as the best lightweight on the planet, Shinya Aoki, will come over from Japan to try to take Gilbert Melendez's lightweight belt.

For Henderson -- a former Olympic wrestler who was once considered one of the UFC's elite and even coached one season of The Ultimate Fighter before falling out of favour with UFC president Dana White -- his first Strikeforce scrap is an opportunity to grow his already swollen fan base.

"A huge part of why I signed with Strikeforce was to be on CBS," says the Californian (25-7).

"Having fights on network television helps better the sport and it introduces people to it, so they can fall in love with it."

His opponent is coming into his first title defence as an underdog.

"I may feel a little slighted the way this has played out because I put a lot into becoming champion, but I certainly understand why and I'm fine with it," says Shields (24-4).